xkcd #2933: Elementary Physics Paths - eviltoast

https://xkcd.com/2933

Alt text:

==COSMOLOGY==> ‘Uhhh … how sure are we that everything is made of these?’

  • Sentau@discuss.tchncs.de
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    6 months ago

    Crazy thing is very similar mathematical structures is used to define the behavior of a single particle in QFT and of a huge collection of particles in condensed matter physics

      • Liz@midwest.social
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        9
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        6 months ago

        When you section off a small part of the universe and try to model it, there’s little reason your model should look like a model for a completely different small part of the universe. Not unless they share fundamental characteristics that you’re trying to model. The math that describes permanent deformation looks nothing like fluid dynamics.

      • Sentau@discuss.tchncs.de
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        6 months ago

        Neither of them is trying to model the universe (that is the purview of cosmology). We are trying to model very particular phenomenon happening in the universe and there is no reason to expect them to modeled using the mathematical structure. The fact that they are is very fascinating.